Deep Dive into Seen by Men or Seen by the Father: Fasting Without Hypocrisy (Matthew 6:16 –18)

Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6 targets the spiritual disease of hypocrisy, defined as religion as performance. This vice, derived from the Greek word hypokritēs (actor), can infect the three primary religious duties: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. The fundamental issue is not the practice itself, but the audience and the motivation behind it.

Two audiences exist: people (the crowd) and the Father. The hypocrite’s primary goal is to be "seen by them," turning devotion into "theater" and receiving the fleeting praise of men as their only "reward received," which is payment in full. In sharp contrast, Jesus commands His disciples to seek the true audience: your Father who is in secret.

Fasting is defined as a voluntary abstaining, usually from food, meant as a bodily way of saying, "Lord, You are more necessary than bread." It is a discipline assumed by Jesus, but it must be practiced with sincerity. Jesus forbids "performative fasting," such as disfiguring the face or looking gloomy to advertise devotion. Instead, disciples must maintain a normal exterior ("wash your face") so that their obedience is shielded from the corrupting desire for human applause.

The purpose of this secrecy is sincerity, ensuring that the devotion is entirely God-ward. The Father "sees in secret," meaning hidden obedience is never wasted. The gracious reward promised by the Father is not a merit-wage earned by self-denial, but His lasting pleasure and the joy of communion with Him. Ultimately, the power to overcome the fear of man and the love of praise is found in Jesus Christ, the true Son whose perfect sincerity secures the believer’s acceptance as an adopted child. This acceptance frees the disciple to pursue holiness without acting, leading them to store treasure in heaven, where only God’s approval counts.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

https://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730